Gun port for bullet-resisting structures



March 7, 1933.

s. R. PQPP GUN PORT FOR BULLET RESISTING STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 15, 1932 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 untrue s'ra'rss -PATENT orFicEi SYLVAN n. roger, or MINNEAPOLIS, MI NESOTA." Assier oRTov o. B. McoLIN'moK COMPANY, or MINNnAroLrsrrI nsorn, A conronA'rIo or MINNnso'rA GUN on-Tron BULLnT-ansis'rrN srnuo'runns 1 Application filed January 15, 1932. Serial-No. 586,916.

My present invention relates-to gun ports intended for general'usebut especially well adapted for embodiment in a bullet-resisting structure for the exposed side or sides of a S tellers cage'or like structure to protect the person in the enclosure valuables. I 1

Theobjectof .the invention is to provide a gunv port having a closure that can be easily opened by pressure producedthereon, by a firearm held in the hand of the person in the closure, and thus held While firing through the gun port. This closure, when the pressurethereon to hold the same open is removed, will automatically closeand be automatically locked closed so thatthe same can not be opened fromtheoutside of the structure. 1

To the above end; the invention consists as well as the of the novel devices and eoinbinationsof the claims. v

Fig. 2; and

In the accompanying drawing,- which illustrates the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. Referring to the drawing:-

Fig. l'is a fragmentary front elevationof a bullet-resisting structure having theiin vention embodied in one of its panels;

Fig. 2 is .a fragmentary inside-elevationofv the panel and gun port, on an enlarged scale, some parts beingbroken away and sectioned; p

Figs. '3 and 4: are views principally-in section taken'on the lines 33 and. r-t of Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, with the closure open and held open by a firearm diametrically illustrated by means of broken lines. v

Of the parts ofthe bulletuesisting structure illustrated it is important to "note the counter 6, the top rail 7, the post. 8', the intermediate rail 9, the mullion 10,' the bulletresisting glass panels 11, voice or sound openings 12 in the post 8 and mullion 10, and the wicket 13 having a deal tray 1 and voice or sound panels 15. .On-thebaok of the panel 12 is a bullet-resisting plate 16. 1

Gun ports may be placed in'the structure at various different locations and -so arranged that the entire room, outside of the structure, will be within range 'of'firearms pointed through said ports so a daylight hold up bandit can not get into a position in Which he is out of range. In the draw ing only one gun port 17 is illustrated and, as shown; is in the center of the panel 12 directly below the voice opening in the mullion 10. This gun port 17 is a round hole which extends completely through the panel 12 and its reinforcing plate 16. The diameter of the gun port 17 is such that a firearm may be sighted to cover a relatively wide area of the exposed portion of the room.

-Normally the gun port 17 is closed by a rectangular closurein the form of a slide 18' of bullet-resisting material mounted in a guide or way 19 for vertical sliding move.- ment on the inner face of the reinforcing plate 16. This way 19 includes a pair of uprightedgewise spaced rails 20e arrang'ed with the gun portfll? therebetween; The opposing edges of the rails 20, adjacent to the reinforcing plate 16, are rabbeted; as indi cated at 21, to receive the vertical edge portions of the slide 18 and hold the same with aworking fit in said rabbets and theinner face of the reinforcing plate 16 for raising and lowering movements to open and close said port. 7

. When the slide 18 is closed it loosely rests on a pair of horizontal axially aligned pins 22a'nchored in the opposing faces ofthe rails 20 and extendingintothe rabbets 21. This slide 18 is1relatively heavy so that Whenit is raised to open the gun port 17 and when released will dropb-y gravity at a high speed and close said port.

An automatic latch-is provided fornormally holding theslide 18 closed so that the same cannot beopened from the out-- side of the enclosure. This latch includes an upright arm 24 and a cooperating hori-' Zontal latch bar ,25. The lowerportion of the latch arm 24; is relatively wide and'atreinforcing positioned under the latch bar 25 by its step finger 27 which engages the inner face of said bar and limits the outward swinging movement of the latch arm 24 from the slide 18.

Formed with the bottom of the latch arm "'24 is a'short outwardly projecting leveracting flange or shoulder 28 which is below the slide 18. The flange 28 is arranged to be engaged by the muzzle of a firearm X, fragmentarily and diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5 by means of broken lines, and with an upward pressure release the latch arm 24 and raise the slide 18 to open the gun port 17. Obviously, while the slide 18 is thus held open the firearm X may be turned onthe flange 28 at any desired angle for pointing said firearm through the port 17 in any direction. It is important to note that the lock shoulder 26, when the slide 18 is closed, is below and spaced from the latch bar 25 so that the initial pressure on the flange 28 will swing the arm 24 toward the slide 18 and thereby move the lock shoulder 26 from under the latch bar 25 to release the latch arm 24. Further upward pressure on the flange 28 by the firearm X will move the slide 18 upward and open the port 17 The very act of releasing the latch arm 24 and opening the slide 18 by the firearm X also positions said firearm so that the same may be discharged the instant said port is open. The removal of the firearm X from under the flange 28 will permit the slide 18 to drop by gravity and closethe port 17. The movement of the latch arm 24 by the firearlnX to release the lock shoulder 26 from the latch bar 25 also automatically positions said latch arm for movement past the latch bar 25 during the opening of the slide 18, see Fig. 5. During the finalclosing movement of the slide 18 theouter face of the latch arm 24, which has smooth sliding engagement with the inher face of the latch bar 25, moves out of engagement with said bar and the action of the weight of the flange 28 will swing the latch arm 24 outward and the engagement of the stop finger 27 with the latch bar 25 will position the lock shoulder 26 under the latch bar 25 and thereby automatically lock the slide 18 closed.

To accelerate the outward movement of said flange will act as a rest for the fire arm and hold the same steady.

As shown in the drawing, the slide 18 rests directly on the front sight of the firearm X, and hence, does not interfere with the sighting of said firearm.

While the slide 18 .is shown in Fig. 5 held fully open by the firearm X it is evi dent that the same may be opened just enough to permit the person holding the firearm to fire through the'port 17.

From what has been said, it will be understood that the gun port described is capable of modifications as to details of con-' struction and arrangement within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and claimed.

. VJ hat I claim is:

1. A panel having a gun. port, a selfclosing closure for the gun port, an automatic latch for holding the closure closed, and common means by which the latch may be released and the closure opened.

2. A panel havin a gun port, a self closing closure for the gun port, an automatic latch for holding the closure closed, said latch being provided with a part that is movable by pressure produced thereon in a constant direction by a firearm while aiming the same to fire through the port, to release the latch and open the closure.

3. A panel having a gun port, a selfclosing closure for the gun port, an automatic latch for holding the closure closed, said latch ,being provided with a part that is movableby pressure produced thereon in a constant direction, by a firearm while aiming the same to fire through the port, to release the latch and open the closure in advance of the firing arm.

4. A panel having a gun port, a closure I for the port mounted on the panel for lifting movement to open the port and close by gravity, an automatic latch for holding the closure closed, and common means by which the latch may be released and the closure lifted.

5. A panel having a vgun port, a closure for the port mounted on the panel for lifting movement to open the port and close by gravity, and a latch for the closure including a transverse bar, an upright arm hingedly attached to the closure and having a lock shoulder normally in position to engage the latch bar and prevent opening of the door,

said arm also having a lever-acting member that is movable by pressure produced thereon, by a firearm while aiming the same to fire through the port, to operate the latch arm and release the closure and open the same.

6. A panel having a gun port, a closure for the port mounted on the panel for lifting movement to open the port and close by gravity, and a latch for the closure including a transverse bar, an upright arm hingedly attached to the closure and having a lock shoulder normally in position to engage the latch bar and prevent opening of the door, said arm also having a lever-acting member that is movable by pressure produced thereon, by a firearm while aiming the same to fire through the port, to operate the latch arm and release the closure and open the same, said latch arm being movable by gravity into an operative position.

7. A panel having a gun port, a'closure for the port mounted on the panel for lifting movement to open the port and close by gravity, and a latch for the closure including a transverse bar, an upright arm hingedly attached to the closure and having a lock shoulder normally in position to engage the latch bar and prevent opening of the door, said arm also having a lever-acting member that is movable by pressure produced thereon, by a firearm while aimingthe same to fire through the port, to operate the latch arm and release the closure and open the same, said latch arm being movable by gravity into anoperative position, and which structure further includes a spring for assisting gravity to move the latch arm into an operative position.

8. A panel having a gun port, a closure for the port mounted on thepanel for lifting movement to open the port and close by gravity, and a latch for the closure including a transverse bar, an upright arm hingedly attached to the closure and having a lock shoulder normally in position to engage the latch bar and prevent opening of the door, said arm also having a lever-acting member that is movable by pressure produced thereon, by a firearm while aiming the same to fire through the port, to operate the latch arm and release the closure and open the same, said latch arm being held by the.

latch bar in an inoperative position during opening and closing movements of the.

closure.

9. A panel having a gun port, a closure for the port mounted on the panel for lifting movement to open the port and close by gravity, and a latch for the closure including a transverse bar, an upright arm hingedly attached to theclosure and having a lock shoulder normally in position to engage the latch bar and prevent opening of the door, said arm also having a, lever-acting member that is movable by pressure produced thereon, by a firearm while aiming thesame to fire through the port, to operate the latch arm and release the closure and open the same, said latch arm having a stop finger arranged-to engage the latch bar during final closing movement of the closure and position said arm with its lock shoulder in an operative position.

10. A panel having a gun port, a pair of upright guide rails on the panel with the port therebetween, a plate held by the guide rails for vertical sliding movement and normally closing the port, and an automatic .latch for holding the plate closed, said latch including a horizontal latch bar above the port and secured with respect to the guide rails, and an upright latch arm hingedly attached at its lower end totheplate with its upper end portion extending between the plate and latch bar and having a lock shoulder, said latch arm being normally held vby gravity with its lock shoulder under the v latch bar to prevent opening of thepl'ate, 7

said arm also having on'its hinged end an outwardly projecting lever-acting .flange below the plate. p

.11. A panel having a gun port, a pair of upright guide rails on the panel with the port therebetween', a plate held by the guide rails for vertical sliding movement and normally, closin the port, and an automatic latch for hol ing the plate closed, said latch including a horizontal latch bar above the port and secured with'respect to the guide rails, and an upright latch arm hingedly attached at its lower end to the plate with its upper end portion extending between the plate and latch bar and having a lock shoulder, said latch arm being normally held by gravity with its lock shoulder under the latch bar to prevent opening of the plate, said arm also having on its hinged end an outwardly projecting lever-acting flange below the plate, and which structure further includes a spring under strain to move the latch arm toward the latch bar.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SYLVAN R. POPP. 

